Author: Submitted

The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce the winners of the 60th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. The Chamber would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came out and everyone who participated to make this a fantastic parade. The workmanship this year was amazing, especially after all Coffee County has been through these past few months. It was great to see everyone show-up and show-out for our community. It was a tough decision by judges and Chamber staff, but the winners are: Joy to the World Award – This award goes to…

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the Douglas-Coffee County Veterans Park Committee hosted its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony at 10 AM at Cadet Park, located at 1 Airport Circle. The Citizen’s Christian Academy Choir performed at the ceremony, which was attended by members of the public. This event emphasized the importance of honoring the servicemen and women who were killed or wounded during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the United States’ entry into World War II on December 7, 1941. Mr. David “Red” Fehr, Jr. Vice Commander of VFW Post 5976, served as the Master…

On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, the GBI arrested and charged Miguel Gonzalez, age 17, of Douglas, GA, with Aggravated Assault, Felony Murder, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at about 2 a.m., the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglas was requested by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office after a 911 call led deputies to the 100 block of Park Place Road in Douglas regarding a shooting incident. Miguel was taken into custody on scene after the initial investigation showed he shot and killed his father, Israel Rivera Cruz, age 45,…

The Coffee Regional Medical Center Emergency Department was recognized for its commitment to strengthening pediatric emergency care in Coffee County during a Dec. 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Coffee Regional was celebrated for reaching key milestones as a participating hospital in the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC). The alliance, established in 2023, is a collaboration between Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), its Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC) and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s). Georgia rural hospitals face unique challenges in their ability to treat and keep pediatric patients in their communities, and KidsABC is focused on improving access to quality…

A Florida man convicted of distributing enough fentanyl to kill every resident of a south Georgia community has been sentenced to federal prison. Larry B. Taylor, 59, of Jacksonville, Florida, one of 76 defendants indicted in Operation Ghost Busted, was sentenced to 180 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Quantity of Fentanyl, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Taylor to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There…

The primary mission of the Annual Festival of Lights Parade is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and quality family environment, in and on the streets of Douglas. In order to do so, the following rules and regulations are asked to be followed. All entries (no exceptions) must have an entry form on file at the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce at 114 North Peterson Avenue in order to participate in the parade. Entry fees should be paid to the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. Fees are as follows: Commercial $25.00 per entry. Non-commercial $10.00 per entry. All vehicles/units bearing a…

Eight Chinese nationals have been indicted on felony charges after investigators discovered massive indoor marijuana growing operations in rural South Georgia. All eight defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on those charges carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with fines of up to $10 million and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is…

Coffee Regional Medical Center earned national recognition for its efforts to increase organ, eye and tissue donor registrations across the state of Georgia through the DoNation Campaign. DoNation engages workplaces of all sizes and industries to highlight the importance in the lifesaving and life-giving mission of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. CRMC, in partnership with LifeLink® of Georgia, the local organ and tissue recovery program, and Donate Life Georgia, the state’s organ and tissue donor registry, earned its fifth Platinum recognition for conducting organ donation education and donor registration activities between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. During the…

Youth from the Coffee High chapter of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) recently participated in a leadership conference held November 12-13, 2024 at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington, Georgia. Over 1,700 students and advisers from schools across Georgia participated in leadership workshops and competitions at this location. Students were motivated by the conference theme “Tuning Into Success”. Chapters also had the chance to compete in several events including Lapel Pin Design, Membership Recruitment, and Statesman Award. Coffee FCCLA was able to participate in a team-building event. Coffee High’s FCCLA chapter adviser, Tara Carver, accompanied eight members…

The Douglas-Coffee County Veterans Park Committee will host its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 10 AM at Cadet Park, located at 1 Airport Circle. World War II Veterans will be recognized at the ceremony. School groups and the public are invited to attend to learn more about Douglas’ role during World War II. The WWII Flight Training Museum will be open for school groups and visitors to view the exhibits and learn more about the history of World War II and how Douglas played a major role in training WWII pilots. National Pearl…